T bar wall connector

ABSTRACT

A bracket in a suspended ceiling arrangement for connecting the base of a wall channel member of generally inverted C shape to the base of an inverted T bar, having an upstanding T bar leg and bottom T bar arms includes a bracket body for mounting on the T bar has an inverted generally U-shaped central portion for straddling a top end of the leg and extending downwardly on each side of the leg of the T bar. A pair of arms each extend outwardly from said central portion to a respective side of the central portion for extending beyond the arms of the T bar for overlying and fastening to the base of the channel member. The central portion has a pair of generally parallel side walls and a top bridging portion connecting top ends of the side walls wherein the top bridging portion is, in end view, raised from an imaginary plane joining the top ends of the side walls and at right angles thereto to define a raised apex of the top bridging portion midway between the side walls.

[0001] This invention relates to a connector device and in particular to connector device for use when constructing walls or partitions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The vast majority of office buildings are designed as skeletal concrete structures closed by outer walls. Suspended ceilings leave space between the ceiling and superjacent floors 10 for electrical wiring and heat and air conditioning ducts. Internal walls are connected to the concrete floors and the suspended ceilings. It is common practice to attach C-shaped channel elements to the floor and ceiling for receiving metal studs. The channel elements are connected to the ceiling by the simple expedient of self tapping screws, which extend through the channel elements into the bottom, normally exposed face of the T bars used to construct the ceiling. When a wall or partition is moved or removed, the unsightly screws holes remain in the exposed bottom surface of the T-bars.

[0003] A variety of T bar connector devices have been proposed. Examples of such devices are found in Canadian Patents Nos. 1,10.4,316, which issued to J. T. Schuplin on Jul. 7, 1981 and 1,098,27.7, which issued to A. C. Wendt on Mar. 31, 1981 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,378,970, which issued to A. G. Imbrecht on Apr. 23, 1968, 3,596,425, which issued to M. J. Kodaras on Aug. 3, 1971, and 3,638,387 which issued to R. P. Lickuter et al on Feb. 1, 1972. For the most part, the patented devices are unduly complicated and thus expensive to produce.

[0004] One particular arrangement which is simple and effective and has achieved commercial market penetration is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,209 of the present inventor issued Feb. 26, 1991 which corresponds to Canadian Patent 1,316,322 issued Apr. 20, 1993. This provides a relatively simple device for connecting walls to suspended ceilings which is easy to produce, and which does not require screws extending into the exposed surface of the T bar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] However the arrangement as shown has been found to have problems in properly fitting on to certain shapes and construction of T bar and thus problems have arisen leading to a rejection of some product.

[0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a bracket for connecting a generally C-shaped wall channel member to the base of an inverted T bar, having an upstanding T bar leg and bottom T bar arms, used in a conventional suspended ceiling assembly, the bracket comprising:

[0007] a bracket body for mounting on the T bar;

[0008] the bracket body having an inverted generally U-shaped central portion for straddling a top end of the leg and extending downwardly on each side of the leg of the T bar;

[0009] and the bracket having a pair of arms each extending outwardly from said central portion to a respective side of the central portion for extending beyond the arms of the T bar for overlying and fastening to the base of the channel member;

[0010] the central portion having a pair of generally parallel side walls and a top bridging portion connecting top ends of the side walls wherein the top bridging portion is, in end view, raised from an imaginary plane joining the top ends of the side walls and at right angles thereto to define a raised apex of the top bridging portion midway between the side walls.

[0011] Preferably the top bridging portion is of inverted V shape.

[0012] Preferably the top bridging portion is of inverted U shape.

[0013] Preferably the side walls are straight and parallel so as define a constant distance therebetween.

[0014] Preferably each arm includes a first inner portion connected to a bottom end of a respective one of the side walls and extending at right angles thereto and a second outer portion connected to an outer end of the inner portion and parallel thereto and stepped downwardly therefrom by a right angled step portion.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the invention, the bracket is provided in combination with the elements of the suspended ceiling comprising:

[0016] a wall channel member generally of inverted C shape;

[0017] an inverted T bar, having an upstanding T bar leg and base defined by bottom T bar arms;

[0018] and the bracket connecting a web of the C-shaped wall channel member to the base of the inverted T bar comprising:

[0019] a bracket body mounted on the T bar;

[0020] the bracket body having an inverted generally U-shaped central portion straddling a top end of the leg and extending downwardly on each side of the leg of the T bar;

[0021] and the bracket body having a pair of arms each extending outwardly from said central portion to a respective side of the central portion extending beyond the arms of the T bar overlying and fastened to the base of the channel member;

[0022] the central portion having a pair of generally parallel side walls and a top bridging portion connecting top ends of the side walls wherein the top bridging portion is, in end view, raised from an imaginary plane joining the top ends of the side walls and at right angles thereto to define a raised apex of the top bridging portion midway between the side walls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

[0024]FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above and one end of a preferred embodiment of the connector device of the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above and one side of the second embodiment of the connector device.

[0026]FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the bracket of FIG. 2.

[0027] Wherever possible in the drawing, the same reference numerals have been used to identify the same or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The connector shown herein is similar to that shown in the above patents of the present inventor and the drawings and description herein is partly taken from the patent description therein. With reference to FIG. 1, the connector device of the present invention which is generally indicated at 1 is intended for use when constructing internal walls or partitions in buildings containing conventional suspended ceilings. The suspended ceilings include a framework of so called T bar B 2, which form a rectangular lattice for receiving ceiling tiles. One method of constructing walls utilizes the T bars 2, and downwardly opening channel members 3 of C-shaped cross section. The channel members 3 and rubber spacer strips 4 are connected to the T bars 2 for receiving studs 5 also of C-shaped cross section which extend downwardly to other channel members (not shown) attached to the floor of the building. Wallboard or other finishing panels 6, are connected to the channel member 3 and possible to the studs 5. Trim (not shown) is usually used to cover the joints between the panels and the screws connecting the panels to the channel members.

[0029] The connector device 1 of the present invention constitutes a simple means for suspending a channel member 3 from a T bar. 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the simplest form of the present: invention is a thin metal strip 7, the central portion 8, of which is wrapped around the stem 9 of the T bar 2, and a pair of arms 10 integral with the central portion 8. The arms 10 extend outwardly from the central portion 8 so that the finished cross section of the strip is the same as that of the T-bar 2, i.e. the strip 7 generally conforms to the top of the T bar. Self-tapping screws 11 are used to connect the central portion 8 to the stem 9 of the bar 2 and the arms 10 to the channel member 3.

[0030] With reference to FIG. 2, a second embodiment is virtually identical to the first embodiment of the invention, except that the strip 7 is preformed to conform to the shape of the top of the T bar 2. Thus, the strip 7 includes a head 12, which extends around the upper end 13 of the T bar 2 and shoulders 14 in the arms 10.

[0031] The modification with which the present invention is concerned which distinguishes the present invention from the prior art of the present inventor is at the top of the side walls 9 of the bracket as best shown in FIG. 3 where the top wall or bridging portion 9A is raised relative to an imaginary line L which extends across between the tops 9B of the side walls 9 at right angles to the side walls. This forms a apex 9C midway between the side walls which is raised relative to the imaginary line L thus providing an additional area underneath the raised top portion 9A which allows for receiving parts or projections from the top of the T bar which could otherwise interfere with the fit of the bracket over the T bar. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the top portion 9A is of inverted V shape to define two flat side walls each extending generally at 45° to the side walls 9 and each converging to a right angled apex 9C. The angles may be changed above or below 45° as required to provide a raised portion of the required shape to receive any projections at the top of the T bar. This preferred V shape still the side walls 9 onto the sides surfaces of the leg of the T bar with the top edge 9B of the side walls 9 at the top of the T bar.

[0032] However the top portion may also be smoothly semi-cylindrical to form an inverted U shape or the apex maybe slightly curved to form a U shape which is not semi-cylindrical.

[0033] The key point is that the center apex 9C is raised above the imaginary line L to provide the above mentioned additional volume into which projections from the T bar can fit. The specific shape, V shape or U shape is of less importance.

[0034] The side walls 9 in this embodiment are straight and parallel so as to define a constant distance therebetween, despite the shaping of the T bar which may include an undercut as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0035] Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. 

1. A bracket for connecting a generally C-shaped wall channel member to the base of an inverted T bar, having an upstanding T bar leg and bottom T bar arms, used in a conventional suspended ceiling assembly, the bracket comprising: a bracket body for mounting on the T bar; the bracket body having an inverted generally U-shaped central portion for straddling a top end of the leg and extending downwardly on each side of the leg of the T bar; and the bracket having a pair of arms each extending outwardly from said central portion to a respective side of the central portion for extending beyond the arms of the T bar for overlying and fastening to the base of the channel member; the central portion having a pair of generally parallel side walls and a top bridging portion connecting top ends of the side walls wherein the top bridging portion is, in end view, raised from an imaginary plane joining the top ends of the side walls and at right angles thereto to define a raised apex of the top bridging portion midway between the side walls.
 2. The bracket according to claim 1 wherein the top bridging portion is of inverted V shape.
 3. The bracket according to claim 1 wherein the top bridging portion is of inverted U shape.
 4. The bracket according to claim 1 wherein the side walls are straight and parallel so as define a constant distance therebetween.
 5. The bracket according to claim 1 wherein each arm includes a first inner portion connected to a bottom end of a respective one of the side walls and extending at right angles thereto and a second outer portion connected to an outer end of the inner portion and parallel thereto and stepped downwardly therefrom by a right angled step portion.
 6. A combination for use in a suspended ceiling comprising: a wall channel member generally of inverted C shape; an inverted T bar, having an upstanding T bar leg and base defined by bottom T bar arms; and a bracket connecting a web of the C-shaped wall channel member to the base of the inverted T bar comprising: a bracket body mounted on the T bar; the bracket body having an inverted generally U-shaped central portion straddling a top end of the leg and extending downwardly on each side of the leg of the T bar; and the bracket body having a pair of arms each extending outwardly from said central portion to a respective side of the central portion extending beyond the arms of the T bar overlying and fastened to the base of the channel member; the central portion having a pair of generally parallel side walls and a top bridging portion connecting top ends of the side walls wherein the top bridging portion is, in end view, raised from an imaginary plane joining the top ends of the side walls and at right angles thereto to define a raised apex of the top bridging portion midway between the side walls.
 7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein the top bridging portion is of inverted V shape.
 8. The combination according to claim 6 wherein the top bridging portion is of inverted U shape.
 9. The combination according to claim 6 wherein the side walls are straight and parallel so as define a constant distance therebetween.
 10. The combination according to claim 6 wherein each arm includes a first inner portion connected to a bottom end of a respective one of the side walls and extending at right angles thereto and a second outer portion connected to an outer end of the inner portion and parallel thereto and stepped downwardly therefrom by a right angled step portion. 